In Like A Lion

In like a lion, out like a lamb.  That’s what they say about March.  They, have obviously never been to Indiana. There’s also something about April showers bringing May flowers. I think they were referring to rain showers, not snow.

Former Bush speechwriter and noted conservative (and Canadian by the way) David Frum wrote an opinion piece this week claiming that President Obama accomplished little during his European tour this past week.  After eight years of American presidents accomplishing nothing on overseas trips, little, is a dramatic improvement.

While Obama did not secure any groundbreaking policy commitments, (disregarding agreement on financial regulations, nuclear arms reduction and genuine good will), he did begin the arduous process of repairing relations with the rest of the world.  Instead of peering into other people’s eyes and seeing their souls, he looked at the summit participants and saw them for who they really are, political leaders of nations with different interests and agendas from those of the United States.  And while they don’t want to be bludgeoned into doing America’s bidding, they might be convinced to work with America on issues of mutual interest.  What the Bush administration never understood, and what the conservative movement by extension continues to misunderstand, is that the rest of the world is fully aware that the United States is the most powerful nation on earth.  But they neither want nor need to have it lorded over their heads all the time.  They want to be treated like sovereign nations, not U.S. Territories.

When the media wasn’t covering Barack Obama mediating disputes between the French and Chinese Presidents, the story was Michelle Obama.  Apparently she is the second coming of Princess Grace and Jacqueline Onassis.  The French press declared her to be bigger than French first lady, pop star and former super model Carla Bruni.  Mrs. Obama drew crowds as large or larger than those that turned out for her husband.  Buckingham Palace even issued a statement declaring that her much ballyhooed embrace of the queen was simply a spontaneous, mutual display of affection.  She’s untouchable.  It’s like she’s this incredibly effective ambassador for America, someone people look up to and believe embodies the all the positive values of this country, worthy of emulation. It’s somewhat refreshing.

As promised, the GOP unveiled its alternative budget proposal last Wednesday, April Fools Day. After reviewing the details, one could be forgiven for mistaking the afore mentioned proposal for an April Fool’s prank. Absent from the budget alternative was any mention of healthcare, energy or education. Instead we were promised a spending freeze on everything but defense (proving once again that Republicans can always find money to blow things up), and, of course, tax cuts. Apparently the GOP believes the condition of the healthcare system, the environment and the educational system will improve so long as we continue to ignore them. Hard to argue with logic like that, isn’t it?

Not content to look like April fools with their faux budget proposal, GOP representatives also issued a statement claiming that any use of the budget reconciliation process to pass the President’s budget priorities (a process the Republican Congressional majority used at least three times during the past eight years to pass President Bush’s tax cuts) would derail any chance for compromise. Do they think we’re all idiots? What chance for compromise? Republicans have proven repeatedly over the past ten weeks that they have no intention of signing on to any of the President’s initiatives, regardless of the circumstances. Republican leadership still doesn’t seem to understand that bipartisanship does not mean simply giving in to everything they want.

And now for a little comic relief.

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This past Monday the Iowa Supreme Court struck down the state law prohibiting gay marriage. Not to be outdone, less than one day later the Vermont legislature soundly over rode the governor’s veto (100-49 in the House and 23-5 in the Senate) of a bill legalizing gay marriage in Vermont. Riding the wave, the District of Columbia promptly passed legislation stating it would recognize legal same-sex marriages performed in other states as legal in D.C. That brings the tally of states in which same-sex marriage is legal to 4 1/2. At some point, probably sooner rather than later, the United States Supreme Court is going to have “man up” and make a ruling on this issue. They’ve been avoiding it like the plague, treating it like its some reincarnation of Bush vs. Gore. They can’t duck this forever.

Merely hours after Secretary of Defense Robert Gates debuted the administration’s priorities for the U.S. military, the opposition dusted off the old GOP playbook and attacked. Republican Senator James Inhofe accused the President of attempting to “disarm America.” Obama will apparently accomplish this by INCREASING the defense budget by 4%, dropping plans for a new fleet of over-priced presidential helicopters, (a move supported by several notable Republicans like John McCain), ending production of the F-22 stealth fighter (in an era in which stealth aircraft are now detectable by all our major allies as well as threats to our air superiority), reducing the missile defense program and attempting to shift military priorities – and funding to counter-insurgency technologies and personnel. In what universe is a 4% increase a catastrophic budget cut? The opposition to this budget proposal – as it always is – is an example of NIMBY at it’s finest. Production of the F-22 is spread across 44 states. Congress doesn’t care one bit that the aircraft is over-priced and obsolete, and could be replaced with something relevant and less expensive. They simply don’t want to lose jobs in their distract. All those Southern representatives who had no trouble telling autoworkers in Michigan Ohio and Indiana to stick it where the sun don’t shine will be the first to show up on the steps of the Capitol, pitch forks in hand, demanding the government protect the jobs of hard-working “real Americans.”

Just when you thought he was out of your hair, the hair returns to haunt your news. Late last week, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted on 16 counts of political corruption in connection with his alleged attempted selling of Barack Obama’s senate seat. Blago is poised to become the second consecutive Illinois governor to find himself behind bars. This delightful piece of rogue trivia came in the same week that new Attorney General Eric Holder dismissed all corruption charges against Alaska senator Ted Stevens due to the fact that prosecutors failed to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense. So, residents of Illinois and Alaska get a little something for everyone. Illini get one of their own in the White House and another in the Big House. Alaskans may have missed out on sassy Sarah as Dick Cheney lite, but they can reclaim Uncle Ted, provider of the Bridge to Nowhere. I guess that’s fair.

The story of the day comes to us from Somalia, where for the first time since 1804, pirates commandeered a ship under a U.S. flag. Their victory was short lived however, as the crew promptly retook their ship, taking one of the pirates into custody. The other three managed to escape to the lifeboat with the captain as a hostage. Unmanned Navy surveillance aircraft continue to track the position of the lifeboat as a destroyer and its compliment of helicopters make their way toward it. What will happen when the cavalry arrives is anybody’s guess, but I’d be willing to bet that it will probably be another 205 years before pirates intentionally attack another American ship.

Finally, Levi Johnston, former fiancee of one Bristol Palin apparently misses the bright lights of the campaign. He found his way back into the spotlight last week with an appearance on the Tyra show. Appearing with his mother and sister, Mr. Johnston lamented his break-up with his ex-fiancee, admitted (the obvious) that he did use protection - most of the time - and insinuated that Governor Palin knew that he and her daughter were not “saving themselves for marriage.” The Palin public relations machine, apparently oblivious to more substantive issues like the storage of millions of gallons of flammable fuel in the shadow of an active volcano, expended valueless airtime refuting Johnston’s claims, labeling him a liar and an attention-seeker. Seriously, am I the only one relieved that this episode of Jerry Springer never made it anywhere near Pennsylvania Avenue?